Akhil Gogoi's Suffering Continues in Jail amid Nationwide COVID-19 Lockdown

Dibrugarh, April 1, 2020:

The saga of the peasant leader Akhil Gogoi and his tryst with the Assam Police personnel, who continue to arrest him every time he is closer to scenting the smell of freedom, has been continuing for over 3 months. Gogoi, who was arrested from Jorhat in the midst of Assam's struggle to overthrow the "communal" Citizenship (Amendment) Act, has been suffering illness and the cause for his release has been championed by noted activists (such as Yogendra Yadav) and common citizens alike. Now, despite the advent of the global health crisis brought about by the new coronavirus (or COVID-19), Gogoi, like a caged animal, still finds himself trapped behind bars.

Earlier today, the CAA movement leader seemed to be on the verge of being released. After being granted bail and cleared of all charges, Gogoi finally got out of prison. However, to his utter frustration, Dibrugarh police personnel were waiting for him with new charges and were prompt in arresting him. This time, he has been arrested under case no 289/19 registered against him at the Chabua police station in Dibrugarh.

[Note: Chabua town saw a massive unrest in the aftermath of the Bill's passage in both the houses of the Parliament; railway tracks were destroyed and a local MLA, Binod Hazarika's house was torched by miscreants]

Dr Navanil Barua, a senior neurosurgeon from Assam, opines that this ever-continuing process of filing different cases against the peasant leader reeks of a conspiracy. "Akhil Gogoi, whether he is guilty is not for me to judge, but something smells fishy here. Not a chargesheet has been given. He was arrested in Sibasagar. If it was an old FIR, why did they wait so long to file a case against the man? The police accountability commission should answer this -- why have these cases been pending? The High Court must seek answers from the Assam Government -- if these cases are indeed genuine or bogus."

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Raising concerns about the peasant leader's health, Barua said that the "bogus" charges against Akhil must be dropped, especially amid rising risk of contraction of the coronavirus. "Akhil is unwell, and he has been given bail. It is becoming clearer that these are all bogus charges. The officers who are filing these cases must also be questioned -- why are they unable to prove his guilt? At a time when prisoners are being released to "decongest" jails, why arrest Akhil again and again? I simply wish to know what is the reason behind it."

Manjit Mahanta, a senior journalist who was at the forefront of the struggle against the CAA concurs, "At a time when several inmates are being released on parole, a person like Akhil who voices out against injustice is being kept locked behind bars." The senior journalist believes that Akhil's treatment is symbolic of the Government's "vindictive" nature.

Mahanta also opines that a conspiracy is afoot to keep Gogoi confined to jail. "At the same police station, two similar charges cannot be lodged against the same person. However, at the Chabua Police Station, after an earlier case was rejected and he was granted bail, another case has been filed on similar charges."

Opining that the charges against Akhil are "false", Mahanta adds that the fact that the charges against the leader have been dismissed, and that too on non-bailable offenses, points to the fact that the Government is trying to restrain the firebrand leader. "We are using the example of Akhil to show how the Government is trying to suppress democracy", said Mahanta.